06 September 2011

Press release

Jesus Through Asian Eyes

The South Asian Forum, an Alliance team dedicated to resourcing Christians from a South Asian background, has produced a myth-busting booklet to help churches reach out in mission.

Jesus Through Asian Eyes is a booklet which answers 15 frequently-asked questions by South Asians about the Christian faith.

Tackling common misconceptions that Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists often have about Christianity, the booklet balances an informative and engaging tone and looks at the key issues that many face.

Manoj Raithatha, national co-ordinator for South Asian Forum (SAF), says: "I know when I first became a Christian three years ago, my Hindu family and friends would ask me; 'don't all roads lead to heaven?'.

"I decided to swot up on the Scripture so I could give them reasoned and seasoned answers. I later discovered that my fellow South Asian believers had been asked similar questions."

The booklet provides a useful resource for churches and individuals to buy and give out to non-Christian South Asians as they build on their relationships and speak about their faith.

"The aim of the booklet is that it can be used for mission," says Manoj. "In it we dispel myths that may be around and use people's testimonies to clarify issues and show by example how people have tackled them."

Recalling the questions he asked when discovering his faith, Ram Gidoomal, chairman of South Asian Concern, said: "Can I be an Asian and a follower of Jesus? Do I have to give up my cultural heritage? These were questions I personally faced when confronted with the truths about Jesus.

"This booklet is a timely contribution and resource for churches, individuals and all those seeking to help their Asian friends and neighbours understand who Jesus is and what it really means to follow and become his disciple."

The resource features testimonies from people from countries including Pakistan, India, Kenya and Britain who have converted from other religions to Christianity.

The A5 booklet costs just 50p per copy and is available from SAF's new website www.eauk.org/saf. A discussion course to accompany the booklet is currently being developed.

Some of the questions featured in the booklet include:

Is Christianity a Western religion?

Isn't it better to follow the religion of my family?

Would I have to leave my family and culture to follow Christ?

What do Christians mean by calling Jesus the Son of God?

Does God favour men over women?

Why are so many Christians not like Jesus?

The booklet has been produced in collaboration with the following organisations: the London Baptist Association, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Baptist Union, Haddon Hall Baptist Church, Lighthouse International Christian Church in Southampton, All Nations Christian Centre in Wolverhampton, South Asian Concern, the British Pakistani Christian Association, Jewels in His Crown, Global Connections, the Philo Trust, New Life Suwarta Sangat, New Life Masih Ghar, Scottish Asian Christian Fellowship, Naujavan, Hope and World Harvest (UK).

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Notes to Editors

The Evangelical Alliance We are the largest and oldest body representing the UK’s two million evangelical Christians. For more than 165 years, we have been bringing Christians together and helping them listen to, and be heard by, the government, media and society. We’re here to connect people for a shared mission, whether it’s celebrating the Bible, making a difference in our communities or lobbying the government for a better society. From Skye to Southampton, from Coleraine to Cardiff, we work across 79 denominations, 3,500 churches, 750 organisations and thousands of individual members. And we're not just uniting Christians within the UK – we are a founding member of the World Evangelical Alliance, a global network of more than 600 million evangelical Christians. For more information, go to www.eauk.org.